Cesare Casadei

Early life and Inter Milan

Born in Ravenna and growing up in Milano Marittima, Casadei started playing football at Cervia before joining Cesena. In 2018, after the latter club faced bankruptcy, the midfielder moved to Inter Milan, where he quickly came through the youth ranks, winning a national Under-17 championship in 2019 and rising to the Under-19 squad while still being only seventeen. In October 2021, he was included in The Guardian's yearly "Next Generation" list, featuring the highest-rated prospects born in 2003. The following year, Casadei received his first call-ups to Inter's first team, while contributing to the U19s' final victory in the Campionato Primavera 1.

Chelsea

Chelsea U21

On 19 August 2022, it was announced that Chelsea had agreed a deal with Inter Milan for the signing of Cesare Casadei on a six-year contract. His transfer fee was reported to be in the range of €15 million, plus €5 million in add-ons. Casadei was included in the U21 team, and on 31 August, he made his debut against Sutton United, losing 1–0 in an EFL Trophy match and being red carded. Four days later, he made his Premier League 2 debut, when he scored a 48th-minute goal to make it 2–0 against Everton U21. On 22 November, he scored a long-distance goal in a 4–2 away win against Peterborough United senior team in the EFL Trophy second round; the goal was also voted as Chelsea's Goal of the Month. He scored a total of five goals in 13 appearances for Chelsea…

Casadei has represented Italy at almost all youth international levels, from the Under-16 to the Under-21 national team. In June 2022, he was included in the squad that took part in the UEFA Under-19 European Championship in Slovakia, where Italy reached the semi-finals before getting knocked out by eventual champions England. On 19 November 2022, he made his debut for the Italy U21 squad in a friendly match lost 4–2 against Germany. In December 2022, he was involved in a training camp led by the Italian senior national team's manager, Roberto Mancini, and aimed at the most promising national talents. In May 2023, he was included in the Italian squad that took part in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina. Having helped Italy reach the final, as the Azzurrini eventually lost to Uruguay, he received both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot awards, as the most valuable player and the top scorer of the tournament with 7 goals. In March 2025, he was called up to the senior Italy squad for the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League quarter-final matches against Germany on 20 and 23 March 2025.

Casadei is a midfielder who has played in several midfield roles, including as an attacking midfielder and in deeper positions. Primarily right-footed, he is capable of playing on either side of midfield in different tactical formations. He is tall and has a slight valgus deformity. He has been described as comfortable in possession, both when passing and carrying the ball, and has been noted for his pace and coordination. His off-the-ball movement, shooting, and heading ability allow him to create scoring opportunities. Defensively, he has been noted for pressing opponents, contesting tackles, and using his physicality in duels or while shielding the ball. Due to his skills, he has been compared to Massimo Ambrosini and Sergej Milinković-Savić, although he cited Nicolò Barella, Marcelo Brozović, Radja Nainggolan, Javier Zanetti and Federico Valverde as sources of inspiration.

Cesare's brother, Ettore, is also a footballer; he played a number of games in Serie D, most notably with Romagna Centro, and most recently represented the soccer team of the Florida Institute of Technology.